I had never considered wether I was a veteran or not until the other night. At a school band concert veterans were ask to stand when their service's song was played. My son said, "Mom, stand up"; but my husband said "No, she is not a veteran." I served 6 yrs in the USMC Reserves (then 2 inactive reserve), volunteered to be called up during Desert Storm for 6 months (had an active ID card at that time) but stayed in the US my entire enlistment. I have no medical problem. I have an honorable discharge and a DD214. I DON'T WANT ANY BENEFITS, I am just curious-am I a veteran?Question:Is a former reservist a veteran?

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 32, §1, and c. 4, §7, cl.43, you qualify as a veteran if you meet ONE of the following three requirements:

1) You have at least 180 days of regular active duty service and you were honorably discharged or released.

2) You have at least 90 days of active duty service, at least one day of which was during wartime per the chart below, and you were honorably discharged or released.

To qualify as a veteran of this conflict... ...you must have at least one day of wartime service during this periodWorld War IIMerchant Marine

September 16, 1940 through December 21, 1946December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946Korea

June 25, 1950 through January 31, 1955Korea-Vietnam

February 1, 1955 through August 4, 1964Vietnam

August 5, 1964 through May 7, 1975Lebanon*

August 25, 1982 through [date to be determined]Grenada*B.

October 25, 1983 through December 15, 1983Panama*

December 20, 1989 through January 31, 1990Persian Gulf

August 2, 1990 through [date to be determined]*Naval and Marine DD214 must indicate Expeditionary Medal. All DD214s must specify campaign: Lebanon, Grenada and Panama.

Please note that, pursuant to M.G.L. c4, §7, the six months of active duty for training in the Active Reserves and the National Guard does not qualify as active service toward the minimum period listed here. If your only active duty was active duty training, you are not eligible to purchase credit for your military service.

3) You served in wartime and were awarded a Purple Heart or service-connected disability, or died, regardless of whether you completed the minimum length of active duty service in the chart under (2), above.

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."...Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four.(Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) Founding Member Original DVG & Proud Member, Rupterd Duck/Derelict Veterans

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."...Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four.(Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) Founding Member Original DVG & Proud Member, Rupterd Duck/Derelict Veterans

Like many kids from the the 50s, military service was our only option for a job. As a 17 year old, eighth grade dropout, with both older brothers in the army, what else could I do.

The first three years was about growing up. The last 17 was about doing the best I could with what I had.

I worked for NCOs and officers who invested time in me.

Take care,

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."...Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of Four.(Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) Founding Member Original DVG & Proud Member, Rupterd Duck/Derelict Veterans